Capsule with dedicated sealing means

Abstract

The present invention proposes a capsule for containing beverage ingredients, the capsule being designed for insertion in a beverage production device, the capsule comprising a body portion having at least a circumferential sidewall for enclosing an ingredients compartment of the capsule, and a sealing member, wherein the sealing member comprises a first flange-like rim portion and a second portion which is at least partially overlapping with an inner surface of the sidewall of the body portion.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
       1. A capsule for containing beverage ingredients, the capsule being designed for insertion in a beverage production device comprising:
 a body portion having an inlet face, at least a circumferential sidewall for enclosing an ingredients compartment of the capsule, and an aperture; 
 a sealing member comprising a first flange-like rim portion, a second portion, and a circumferential support groove therebetween, the first flange-like rim portion being one piece distinct from the body portion and made of a sealing material softer than the body portion, the second portion being at least partially overlapping with an inner surface of the sidewall of the body portion, and the circumferential support groove being connected to an edge of the body portion; and 
 a membrane forming an outlet face covering the aperture and being sealed to the first flange-like rim portion of the sealing member. 
 
     
     
       2. The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the sealing member is connected to the capsule body portion by means selected from the group consisting of an adhesive and a welding. 
     
     
       3. The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the first flange-like rim portion is integrally formed with the second portion of the sealing member. 
     
     
       4. The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the rim portion and the second portion of the sealing member have a different hardness. 
     
     
       5. The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the rim portion is resilient to compensate for eventual irregularities in a matching sealing surface of a beverage production device. 
     
     
       6. The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the flange-like rim portion is designed to be compressed from a first thickness to a second thickness. 
     
     
       7. The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the membrane is a gas impermeable membrane. 
     
     
       8. The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the outlet face has a liquid permeable wall. 
     
     
       9. The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the sealing member is a support skeleton supporting at least a portion of the side wall of the capsule body portion. 
     
     
       10. The capsule according to  claim 9 , wherein the support skeleton comprises at least one of axial links or transversal links forming a plurality of windows covered by the sidewall of the capsule body portion. 
     
     
       11. The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the flange-like rim portion is made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, rubber and silicone. 
     
     
       12. A beverage production system, comprising:
 a capsule for containing beverage ingredients, the capsule being designed for insertion in a beverage production device, the capsule comprising a body portion, a sealing member, and a membrane, the body portion having an inlet face, at least a circumferential sidewall for enclosing an ingredients compartment of the capsule, and an aperture, the sealing member comprising a first flange-like rim portion, a second portion, and a circumferential support groove therebetween, the first flange-like rim portion being one piece distinct from the body portion and made of a sealing material softer than the body portion, the second portion being at least partially overlapping with an inner surface of the sidewall of the body portion, the circumferential support groove being connected to an edge of the body portion, and the membrane forming an outlet face covering the aperture and being sealed to the first flange-like rim portion of the sealing member; and 
 the beverage production device is designed for receiving the capsule in a brewing chamber, the brewing chamber is defined, at least partially, by a capsule enclosing member having a front surface with irregularities, the front face of the enclosing member cooperating with the sealing member of the capsule. 
 
     
     
       13. Beverage production system according to  claim 12 , wherein the irregularities in a matching sealing surface of a beverage production device are radially oriented grooves. 
     
     
       14. The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the first flange-like rim portion and the second portion of the sealing member are connected by radially extending connecting pins. 
     
     
       15. Beverage production system according to  claim 12 , wherein the first flange-like rim portion and the second portion of the sealing member are connected by radially extending connecting pins.